Top roll and bearing structure therefor



Dec. 30, 1952 w. s. PIERCE, JR., EI'AL 2,623,245

TOP ROLL AND BEARING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed July so, 1948 2 SIEETS SHEET i W Mhslw a. Riv-cg, Jr.

.Fr'arz f1. 575277 Dec. 30, 1952 w. s. PIERCE, JR., ETAL 2,623,245

TOP ROLL AND BEARING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed July 30, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 wiru low' 5. .Pierce Jr. .Fi'arz .HI S'fearna Patented Dec. 30, 1952 TOP inoLL AND V BEARING STRUCTURE THEREFOR .Win'sloW IS. Pierce, :Jr., Dublin, and Frank H. "Stearns, Meritlen, N. H., assignors, by "mesne assignments, to B. B. Sales Company,.ILebanon,

* N.H.," a partnership Application July 30, 1948,-SeriaINo...41',556

9 Claims.

.The present invention relatesto tonrolls of the type employed. in textile .machinery, and ..more ,particularlytothat type of top ..r.ol1 which cooperates with a. rotatable bottom rolLin stretching and reducingthe size of yarn threads whiohzare passedbetweensuch rolls.

As well known by those skilledin .the art, one form of top roll is applied .to ,a portion of a spinning frame, which provides a series of pairs of cooperating bottom rolls, between which top and bottom rolls, lengths of fibrous .materiaLin the form of threads or-slivers, are adapted .to'be drawn,

The lower or bottom rolls usuallyprovidefluted or'corrugated cylindrical surfaces, while the upper ortop rolls-provide cylindricalsurfaces covered with cots of cork ,or leather. material, with reduced neck portions .therebetween. The ..top rolls are usually arranged in .pairs, and.may be maintained in positionrto engage thelower-rolls by means of cap bars whichreceive the opposite end portions of each pair ofrolls. Usually, the intermediate neck portion of the top rollhas a saddle member applied onthe top surface of the neck,forthe purpose-of properly loading the top roll. The fibrous slivers are delivered to the .oppositely disposedtop and bottom rolls, and are drawn therebetween, due to the fact thatthe bottom roll is positively driven.

TIt has been found that the saddle member, while bearing upon the rotating top;roll neck, will set .upfr-ictionbet-ween thesetwo members, thus causing the :opposite end;portions of the top-roll forcibly ;to engage the gca bars .or seats. consequently causing wear at the points of.-;rotative1en-, Sagement, to ,the r end: that the-.top rolls employed heretoforewere; short-lived. .iIn the past, various lubricating expedients have been; employed to' reduce the ;friction andheat set -.up vby the saddle members. .:However,-such lubricating expedients have: not been successful for the reason-that; any

emesslubrioant delivered: to-thetop roll will tend to :work out to the zcot :portions of ;the roll, thus ultimately coating the 'fibI'OllS material "as the same is-drawn between the top and bottom rolls. Furthermore, the presence ofisuchfree. lubricant uponntherolls will enhance theitendency ofthe roll :to collectvariousioreignsubstancesgsuch as lint, :dust, -;or fly thereupon, "with the result that the;friction-will be increased,1and .the:efliciency of the roll decreased. The, collection ofsuchforeign substance upon the rolls ,oftenbecomes so great thatthe rolls must be removed from the frames .at frequent intervals for cleaning, "even though the rolls, themselves, have not. becnappreciably worn.

2 .Also, in the ;past, ;many attempts have been madeto construct top rolls withvarious-types of anti=friction bearingdevices, "for the purpose or reducing the friction/set up by the saddle members. Howeven suchbearing devices employed in the pastisoon became'cloggedwith fly; lint,and othersuch foreign substances, to the end that the bearingsprove'd to-"be of no "appreciable advantage. Furthermore, in the'past, no successful means for lubricating such bearing devices was devised, and thus in'pra'ctice, these anti-friction hearings were supplied with an'in'adequate or'an excess supply of 1ubricant,"with-disastrous-results in either event.

It is, therefore, a primaryobjectof the present invention to provide aitop roll havinga construction in which'theabove notedsh'ortcomings are eliminated.

.A more. speci'fioobject ofthepresent invention .is to provide a top roll device having associated therewith an anti-friction "bearing which is so sealed .that foreign substances cannot gain entrance therein.

A further Objectofthis invention isto provide a top roll device with an anti-"friction bearing unit so constructed that it may bereadily lubricated, but at the same time having means for preventing the escape'of such lubricant.

Another object of this invention is to provide a (top roll .device havingall of the advantage as above noted, and being designed in a manner such .thatit may be. inexpensively manufactured and serviced.

With the aboveandother .objectsin view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations-and arrangements of parts hereinafter .set forth .and illustratedjin the accompanying drawings of apreferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features .of the invention and the advantages. attained thereby will be readily understood bythose skilled in theart.

"Fig. 1 represents a front elevation view .of the present invention as .appliedto a spinning frame.

Fig. 2 represents, on an enlarged scale, alongitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 ofFig, 1.

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the .line :3'3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents a side view of a pairof bearing races-which:are employed in the present' invention,

Fig. 5 representsaside viewof a portion of one of the bearing. races usedin the present device.

Fig. 6 represents an end view of that element disclosed in Fig.5.

Fig. 7 represents a side view of another bearing race element used in the present invention.

Fig. 8 represents a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 represents a face view of a cup element used in the present invention.

Fig. 10 represents a side view of the cup element disclosed in Fig. 9.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, a top roll assembly, generally designated by the numeral l2 and incorporating the present invention therein, is shown as being applied to a portion of a spinning frame which provides a series of pairs of lower rolls which are designated generally by the numeral l3. As is usual in such installations, the upper rolls |2 are maintained in position to engage the lower rolls |3 by means of cap bars M, M providing seats in the form of vertically disposed slots l5, l for receiving the end portions |6, |6 of the top roll assembly. An intermediate neck portion of the top roll is adapted to have a saddle bearing disposed thereon for the purpose of properly loading the roll assembly. As hereinabove noted, the fibrous slivers are adapted to be drawn between the upper and lower roll assemblies E2 and I3, of which only the lower rolls I3 are positively driven.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the present top roll comprises a steel arbor structure It having intermediate its end portions a hardened trough-shaped neck l9 about which a novel split ball bearing structure is adapted to be provided. More specifically, this ball bearing unit comprises a series of balls 20, 20 which encircle the groove l9 in ball-to-ball contacting relation. In order to confine these balls about the neck l9 in this relation, there are provided a pair of hardened complementary race elements 2| and 22 (see Fig. 3). These races are identical in structure, and each is provided with one-half of an inner circumferential groove 23 which is particularly adapted for receiving the balls 20, 20. Cooperating with the races 2| and 22 is a second or auxiliary pair of hardened race elements 24 and 25 which, like the race elements 2| and 22, are similar to each other. As may be best seen in Fig. 2, all of the semicircular race elements 2|, 22, 24, and 25 are adapted to be assembled together in a manner such that they form a substantially hollow cylindrical bearing-confining outer race ring which cooperates with the inner neck or race IS in confining the bearing balls 20, 20.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 to '7, inclusive, it is to be understood that the race elements 2|,

22, 24, and 25 are initially made as a pair of hollow cylindrical structures 21 and 28 which are illustrated in Fig. 4. A second step in the forming of this composite outer bearing-retaining device is to form the groove 23 within the inner wall portion of the cylinder 2?. Upon the completion of this groove 23, the cylinder 21 is then fractured lengthwise of itself along a line 29, thus forming the two race elements 2| and 22. A final step in the preparation of these race elements is to fracture the cylinder 28 lengthwise of itself along line 29, thereby to form the auxiliary race elements 24 and 25. By thus forming a pair of initial cylinders 21 and 28, the above noted groove 23 can be formed in the cylinder 21 with greater facility and accuracy than could be had if the cylinders 27 and 28 were formed as a single unit. However, the present invention also contemplates the idea of forming the race structure from a single hollow cylindrical element which is thereafter fractured once lengthwise of itself thereby shifted lengthwise of the arbor for the purpose of properly positioning the sleeve in place over the various race elements.

Still referring to Fig. 2, it is to be particularly noted that the arbor l8 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced annular grooves 3|, 3| which are disposed adjacent the neck portion is for the purpose of receiving therein flange portions 32, 32 of the race elements 2i, 22, 24 and 25. This particular construction is designed to prevent any lubricant from escaping from the ball bearing area, and also to prevent any foreign matter from entering this area. However, sufficient clearance is provided between the inner peripheral portions of the flanges 32, 32 and the circumferential grooves 3 i, 3|, in order to prevent excessive engagement between these elements. These flanges 32, 32 also function to stiffen their respective raceway elements which are constructed with thin wall portions so as to maintain the outside diameter of the bearing unit at a minimum figure.

Longitudinally disposed within one end portion of the arbor I8 is a bore 33 which communicates with the ball bearing area by means of a substantially radially disposed conduit 34. The outer portion of the bore is provided with a lubricant valve so that the ball bearing area may have lubricant periodically fed thereto. More specifically, this valve comprises a cylinder member 35 having apertures 36 and 3! formed in the oppositely disposed end walls thereof. Disposed within the cylinder 35 is a coil spring 33 which is adapted to force a ball 39 over the aperture 3? for the purpose of preventing the egress of lubricant from the bore From this, it is to be understood that although such a valve will prevent the egress of lubricant from the bore 33, it will, at the same time, permit lubricant to be forced into the cylinder 35, and ultimately into the ball bearing area by way of the conduits 33 and 34.

At either side of the neck portion of the arbor l8 there is provided an annular flange 40, 40 having an outer diameter, as hereinabove noted, slightly less than the internal diameter of the sleeve member 30. These flange portions 40, 48 are adapted as abutment members, against each of which is positioned an annular guard member 4|, 4|. Each of these guard members is adapted to be force-fitted over the arbor so as intimately to engage its associated flange member 40, When each of the guard elements 4|, 4| is so positioned, the peripheral portion thereof overhangs a respective end portion of the sleeve member 30, thereby to seal the bearing area. Also, in corresponding relation with each of these sealing units. there is formed a circumferential groove 42 about the sleeve 3t. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it

is to be understood that each of the sealing units 4!, 4| has its free end portion overhanging the center portion of a respective one of the grooves 42, 42, thereby to form a. roof structure over a portion of each groove. Experience has shown that such an overhanging roof structure will preawasgaau vent-i oreign matter ,2 in thei f orm of'fly, from "workrial does work its waypas-t each ofthesealing elements 1 41, 4! --it will-be deposited Within the grooves' 43x-43. --It is within the contemplation of fiy-will, due to the rotation "of the -arbor I S, tend to become -intermatted arid-thus 'form an'ann'ular ring of fiy. The-fiygby thus for-ming in such a ring; will'no trten d' towork its-"Way into the'grooves 3 I i3 Land in fact,' this fiy ring :will If-unction-as 'a ssecondaryi sealz to prevent'any: excess'oil-which may .WOIR its iway'aroun'd the groove 3L from passing outwardly from "between the guard elements .4 l 4 I and: the: end. portions-of the sleeve 30. fIheserannu-lar: rings of fiy "materia1 may'=be readilyandtaperiodically-rem-oved from the bearingzunits wheneventh-e non metallic cots are 'replaced on the arbor, as will be hereinafter described.

After the "above described split bearing has been properly assembled about the neck portion of the arbor Ilka pair of-cots-'- l4,-d-i may then be providedupon the oppositeend or roll portions of the arbor. These cots may bezfabricatedoficork,

asbestos, or. other similar materiaLand each of them is shape'd'in the form of a hollow cylinder whichmay be force-fitted'overan end portion of the-arbor. lnuorder-to insure -that these-cot ele- IIIEHtSiWflIIlOtWOI'kloose off the: arbor, adhesive material may .behappliedlbetwecn-the inner cot surface: and the periphery of the "arbor element.

The present cot elementsare:conventionalin nature, and whenever.theybecome worn, they -may e-readilymemoved from the :arbor l8 by cutting them iawayi-from the. arbor. surf-ace. Thereafter, fresh. cot :elementsmay. be force iitted inplace.

:Referringparticularlyto Figsii. and2,'it-is-.to be understood that the end-portions l 5, of the arbor are each provided with a cylindrical bearing member 45, 45 which' is-fabricated of aresinous synthetic -material. -More specifically, this material is of a conventional type which is characterized by its great porosity, and thus, the bearing elements 45, 45 may be saturated with a lubricating medium and thereafter force-fitted over the roll ends l6, 15. In this connection, it should be pointed out that such bearing elements 45, 45 could not successfully be used on top roll devices heretofore employed, for the reason that they Would be short-lived, due to the high frictional forces set up on the bearings by the saddle member. However, by utilizing a ball bearing element of the present type between the saddle IT and the roll proper, the amount of friction between the end portions of the roll and their respective bearing seats [5, l5, has ben reduced to a degree that synthetic bearings, such as elements 45, 45, may be successfully employed on the roll.

As hereinabove noted, the saddle bearing l'l' is adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the sleeve and thus, in the present invention, the sleeve 30 has a reduced central portion which is adapted to receive the saddle bearing H, and

thepresent' invention that this small amount of 6 shoulders- 41, l'liformed on-thezsleeveiifunctionias guidesfor thesaddleelement.

JI'hus, F from the above, it is to be understood that the present "top roll assembly is provided with aneffi-cient-antifriction bearing unitwhich is sealed in a 'manner' which precludes the possibility of any foreign= matter gaining entrance into the bearing area. Furthermorepthis bearing unit isprovided with means whereby it may? be properly 1 lubricated I without any danger of having the lubricant work its way'out upon the roll cots. Those skilled in-the art-will readily appreciate thatthe'novelsplit ballbearing structure employed in the present "top roll assembly permits the bearingarea to'be effectivelysealed in-a manner-which not only makes for ahighly efiicient seal but -'wh-ich also makes for inexpensive manufacture and maintenance.

We claim:

'1."In*a'toproll o'f'the character described,=comprising, a unitary arbor having longitudinally spacedrollportions formed integrally therewith, anda-reduced neck; portion between the roll portions, a unitary cylindrical sleeve surrounding said neck portion'an'd having an internal diameter greater than the diameter of the'arbor roll portions, rotatable bearingelements disposed between "said sleeve and'the arbor neck portion, sealing means disposed at the opposite end'portionsof said sleeve, "and "cooperating with the adjacent ends of said "roll'portions, and a cot element surrounding each o'fsaid roll .portions.

2. In'a' top rollofthe character described, comprising, a unitary arbor having longitudinally spaced roll portions and a reduced neck .portion between the roll portions, .a unitary cylindrical "sleeve surrounding ."said neck portion, rotatable bearing 'elernents disposed between said sleeve and the arbor neck portion, means carried by said. a'rborand :cooperating with the opposite end portions'o'fsaidtsleeve'so as to'sealover the bearing "space between said sleeve and the arbor neck portionya lubricant supply 'conduitfformed withinsaidarbor'and leading from one end portion of said" arbor to'the bearingspace, and a oneway acting valve associated withsaid conduit and disposed 'within' said end portion of 'said'arbor.

3. ma top-roll or thecharacter described, comprising, *a unitary arbor having longitudinally spaced --roll"portions and Ya reduced'neck portion between the roll portions, an outer 'race ring having an internal diameter less than" the outer diameter of the arbor roll "portions, rotatable bearing elements disposed between said outer race ring and the arbor neck portion, sealing means disposed at the opposite end portions of said outer race ring, and cot elements surrounding each of the arbor roll portions.

4. In a top roll of the character described, comprising, a unitary arbor having longitudinally spaced roll portions and a reduced neck portion between the roll portions, a pair of semicircular elements disposed together so as to form an outer race ring surrounding the arbor neck portion, rotatable bearing elements disposed between said arbor and said outer race ring, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said race ring, and means disposed between the opposite end portions of said sleeve and said arbor for sealing over the area between said sleeve and said arbor.

5. A bearing structure, comprising, a solid arbor having an annular ball groove at its middle portion, and integrally formed flanges on either side thereof, a pair of semicircular elements disposed together so as to form an outer race ring surrounding the grooved portion of said arbor, with each element of said race ring being provided about its inner surface with a continuous semicircular ball groove, a plurality of balls disposed between said race ring and said arbor and within said two ball grooves, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said race ring to hold said elements together, and means disposed between the opposite end portions of said sleeve and the flanges on said arbor for sealing over the area between said sleeve and said arbor.

6. A bearing structure, comprising, a solid arbor having an annular ball groove at its middle portion, and integrally formed flanges on either side thereof, an outer race ring surrounding the grooved portion of said arbor, said outer race ring being formed from a pair of hollow cylindrical elements which have been fractured longitudinally of themselves thereby forming four semicircular elements, an inwardly extending flange formed about each of the opposite end portions of said outer race ring and being received within a respective one of a pair of annular grooves formed around said arbor on pposite sides of said ball groove, said race ring being provided about its inner surface with a continuous annular ball groove, a plurality of balls disposed between said race ring and said arbor and within said two ball grooves, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said race ring thereby to hold said four elements in their proper positions, and means disposed between the opposite end portions of said sleeve and the flanges on said arbor for sealing over the area between said sleeve and said arbor.

7. A bearing structure, comprising, a solid arbor having spaced flanges on either side of a central portion, a pair of thin semicircular elements disposed in opposite relation so as to form an outer race ring surrounding said central portion of said arbor, an inwardly extending stiffening flange formed about each of the opposed elements of said outer race ring, each flange bein received within an annular groove formed around said arbor, said race ring being provided about its inner surface with a continuous annular ball groove, a plurality of balls disposed between said race ring and said arbor and within said ball groove, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said race ring, and means disposed between the opposite end portions of said sleeve and the flanges on said arbor for sealing over the area between said sleeve and said arbor.

8. A bearing structure comprising a solid arbor having spaced grooves on either side of a central portion, a pair of thin semicircular elements disposed in opposite relation so as to form an outer race ring surrounding said central portion of said arbor, an inwardly extending semiannular stiffening flange formed about each of the opposed elements of said ring, each flange being received in one of said grooves, rotatable bearing elements disposed between said arbor and said race ring, and a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said ring to hold said elements together within said grooves with their flanges in abutting relation.

9. A top roll mechanism comprising in combination a pair of slotted guides mounted in spaced relation, a unitary arbor extending between said guides and providing reduced end portions and longitudinally spaced roll portions with a reduced neck portion therebetween, an outer race ring surrounding said neck portion, rotatable bearing elements disposed between said neck portion and said outer race ring, a pressure exerting member cooperating with said outer race ring, and bearing sleeves mounted on said reduced end portions of said arbor, and turnable therewith, with each bearing sleeve being composed of lubricant impregnated material the outside of which is freely received in one of said slotted guides.

WINSLOW S. PIERCE, JR. FRANK H. STEARNS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 777,243 Clark Dec. 13, 1904 949,504 Sexton Feb. 15, 1910 1,147,116 Nice July 20, 1915 1,187,993 Houghton June20, 1916 1,665,136 Lauffer Apr. 3, 1928 1,747,867 Gregovsky Feb. 18, 1930 1,927,523 Mitchell Sept. 19, 1933 2,256,193 Cobb Sept. 16, 1941 2,405,122 Firth Aug. 6, 1946 2,469,483 Strong May 10, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 75,916 Sweden Nov. 22, 1932 

